Opening

Director Joel Sass brings this show to the Jungle stage for the first time -- even though he's familiar with its rhythms and rhymes. Michael Frayn's backstage laugh fest is considered one of the best farces ever concocted. It follows the travails of a troupe that encounters one disaster after another in the play-within-the-play "Nothing On." Sass' cast is led by Bradley Greenwald, so brilliant in Sass' "Irma Vep," and Cheryl Willis, excellent in "Shirley Valentine" at the Jungle. Others include Kirby Bennett, Stephen D'Ambrose and Kimberly Richardson, who did great work this spring in "Capital Crimes" at History Theatre. Sass also directed this play at Park Square in 2004, for those of you with long memories. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. $10-$38. Ends July 29. Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. 612-822-7063, or www.jungletheater.com.)